10 Quick Watercolor Tips That Will Help Your Paintings Today 

▶︎Free Video Lesson: 8 Ways to Avoid Overworking Your Watercolor Painting www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/opt-in

I just watched this, thanks! Appreciate your tips and not talking or rushing through to fast. Looking forward to more of your videos.

you are 100% right about the cotton paper!! I had never painted on it for years, one day I bought the most expensive paper there was and it was cotton. I loved the way it took water and paint, my painting came out so nice and I had so much more fun! I worked so much less than ever and the results that I got were amazing. I always try and tell people that are new to watercolor to use cotton paper because they are much less likely to become discouraged, and therefore quit.

Hi Matthew.. you are so fresh, smart, sweet exactly like I would want as a son .. your instruction just reminds me of a fresh start to a watercolor scene in a gallery sponsored class I enjoyed years ago. I don't know if I'll ever be able to really watercolor again as I am old and unable to move about on my own. I still think of painting birds or Yosemite or an abstract portrait. Life does not give us enough time to do everything we desire. You have a refreshing, willing and kind attitude in your video, and I'll watch more just because it makes me feel happy, and I'll send them to my young artist friends too. Thank you so much for a bright start to the day. Love to you and yours.. btw your work is lovely. Who wouldn't want to paint as you do! ... Marcia in Modesto!

Excellent video. Shows that it isn't just one thing! Watercolor is multitasking. Which either makes you crazy or gives you something to strive for. Enjoy the process, enjoy the practice, and realize that you can only control some of it, watercolor does what it wants. Learn what it wants and find ways to bend it to your will😎 You are a watercolor Jedi. Thank you for sharing your work.

Another top drawer video, highly informative, it's odd that although I am aware of all these tips I find watching these videos somehow re-educates me to the point where (hopefully) it becomes automatic. Definitely one to watch again and again. Thankyou.

Exceptional tips. As a beginner, I appreciate hearing the basics over and over. I subscribed to your channel based on this video. Thanks for posting. 🙏🌵

Love your videos. When you say don’t outline things can you explain that more please

Thank you

Thank you very much, it is very useful for me. Thanks :)

Hello :) Thank you again for these videos! I have just started an activity that is helping my watercolor journey in so many ways. I am keeping a journal of every painting and specifically capturing what I learned in doing that painting. I try to include the more obvious "disasters" as as well as more subtle things that I wish I had done differently. What an eye opener! It also helps to mitigate the expected pile of "failed" paintings that I now use for "testing colors" Anyway, I thought this might be helpful for your followers as well.

The best way to learn how much paint to mix up is to do some experiments with your paint, brushes, and paper and actually measure how far a given amount of paint will go on the page. Compare the size of your paint puddles to things you'll remember, like the size of a quarter or the diameter of a lemon, etc. And keep in mind that thicker washes will run out faster, since you can't spread them as far, so you'll have to test different dilutions. Also, some pigments (especially those that granulate or flocculate) perform best if you let them really pool on the page with each stroke, while others (like untextured ones like phthalos) will look fine even if the brush is nearly dry.

Excellent collection of tips. It’s as if you’ve been over my shoulder over the last couple of months! Thanks!

You are best watercolor teacher on RU-vid I swear

Thank u❤️

Thank you for another greatly helpful video, Matthew! I’m learning so much from you with each one.

I always love free tips.

just discovered you and your videos, awesome. Absolutely love your subject matter...urban scenes. Looking forward to watching more. I am a 74 year young artist wanting to try watercolors. I'm excited, thanks for your inspirational videos.

I am so happy I found your videos! Love your diverse subject format.

Thank you very much for your helpful tips teacher!

You are such a good teacher. Really. You are calm, you explain things very clearly, you don't rush. I really enjoy your tutorials. I'm saving to take you watercolor essentials course, even if it takes me forever. Thanks a lot for everything you do.

Another Wednesday Morning spent with your knowledge and a cuppa tea :-) Great stuff as always.

Thank u for sharing this video is helpful..

Thank you!

Thank you for these tips! I love the last painting you showed. One point relating to your tip #7. The amount of fading of color when drying is different for each brand of paint. For instance, my Schmincke paints fade far more than my Daniel Smith. Thanks again!

Absolute watercolour beginner and wanting to pull my hair out. This channel helps a lot! ❤

Great advice. Exceptional paintings!

Love tip #2 - vertical lines. It's brilliant.

Thank you for these tips. Very useful!

Thank you! Birgitta from Sweden

Great tips! Ty so much!!❤

FYI you can erase pencil lines after the paint is dry and it doesn’t harm it.unless you rub hard.

I'm a paintless dent repair tech so I understand the trust the process frame of mind.

Thank you for sharing your tips Matthew, very informative and interesting

Thanks for this video. I especially enjoyed the examples of your paintings along with them.

Good video, thanks

I like your work

So often my paintings are not intentional rather a result of fixing mistakes, a result of little to no planning. Following a tutorial has helped greatly except I can still “wander” off task by adding more details not indicated in the tutorials. These 10 tips are very helpful I’ll revisit them before my next painting session. The hardest tip is mixing enough paint up first. I can’t stand to waste paint. On the other hand having to repaint nearly the whole painting because I flubbed on the additional color mix isn’t a happy challenge.

Excellent tips. Thanks again !

Thank you, Matthew. Very helpful tips.

For the dark pencil lines on finished painting, a soft eraser will help. FYI

Thank you for the 10 tips. I fully agree with you considering that I'm a watercolor painter since 20 years!!

😊thank you so much for your advice. Helps a lot 😃🥰

Thank you!!

Thank you! Very helpful 👌

I was really surprised about the "no outline" tip, i think it's up to style and goals. I use it often when I want to get a more cartoon style and in fine details. Let's remember that there's no one right and wrong way of doing things, there are a myriad of styles. Color getting lighter as paper dries is a fact, pencil color fading or sticking out too, but outline or not is a matter of style.

Great tip to mix more paint than you think you’ll need. I’ve been cut short on larger surfaces.

Thank you! It's so amazing when you translate in words all what i feel as difficulties or successes when I am painting! Thank you!!!

Just found you and I've subscribed, your process is mesmerising!

Great ideas!

Thank you so much for this video. I’m going to try painting along with you! Have a Happy New Year! ☮️

Vert good! Thanks

I so appreciate these videos!

Very good tips! I'm a beginner and wish I had some of these instructions a month ago. Ty 😊

Thank you verg much, Godbless youu😁😁😁

Really like your work - and great tips - taken on board, thanks.

Excellent summary of tips

Thank you for these valuable tips.

nghe mà ưng hết cả tai , đức phúc cover mãi đỉnh

Thank you, Matthew! This video was very helpful. I also watched the one in the link. Also great. Especially the 'fun' part. So true.

Thanks for your tips.

Thank you for sharing these tips. It's really helpful. Have a nice day

Thanks.

Wow! Just found your channel and I am so impressed with your instruction, knowledge and the way you present it all. I’ve read so many similar comments. I’ve taken advantage of your free video lesson and look forward to watching many more lessons on your channel. Keep up the great work! T

Great video! I got several tips I hadn't thought of!

Very helpful n useful tips. Thanks for sharing

The painting of this ships by the lake is beautiful. Really liked tip about not outlining..that could be a good subject for one of your videos

I just started use watercolors actually I just started doing any kind of art and found I really like it one of the hardest thing I found is knowing if my painting is dry so I can start the next layer and I found your list was very helpful and cant wait to watch the other videos. Keep doing what you do it makes a difference

Very good video 😊

Nice tips bro😃

Thank you for your very helpful tips! I have just subscribed to your channel!

Thanks!! I'm a complete noob (just started a class and finished my first picture); I think I made a # of these goofs -- didn't mix up enough paint, rushed too much etc. It came out fair but in hindsight I can see how it could've been better! I'll be remembering these tips!

U can erase or lighten the pencil line after covered in paint. Many times people just dont think to try or they r afraid it will make something worse. Use a white eraser & lightly go over the mark after the painting is completely dry (must b dry!!) as in over night or longer. Not after a forced dry such as a hair dryer. If u do remove color & cant dab a blend of marks to fill it back in…..if u really need a soft wash look…..then use water either on a paper towel or on a brush to remove color from the entire area. Once it is lighter, u can simply run a new bead from top to bottom. Water color has a reputation of being a medium that does not allow us to edit or repair our work. This is not true. The more u try, the more u will find multiple processes that work for u. Just remember, clean water removes color (even if its dry u can reactivate the area with a little patience & finesse), allowing paper to dry first will avoid having the abuse permanently damage the fibers such as pilling or worn through areas. U dont want to keep abusing an area…..b patient & when u see damage occurring hold off & let the area dry. Also, when choosing to do so purposely, removing top layers of paper while it is wet is an accepted practice with experienced watercolor painters. No one can express feeling while working under the pressure of perfection. Hope for happy accidents & learn to edit ur choices if they dont land correctly…… This will make ur work even more interesting. If the paper &/or marks show signs of wear & tear, of struggle, dont worry…..people love seeing evidence that something was made by hand.

Helped alot. In my paintings though i have to do alot of chores for my paper 😅. But its very much worth it because im just a kid and im in art varsity so this will help me compete with other regions in other schools

Tip 6… I think, lol, I learned how to “glaze” over my colors that dried too light. I use mainly transparent, one pigment honey based Mission Gold. They are VERY strongly pigmented…. So usually, I’m trying to lift color out. Thanks so much for your videos. My husband is a drummer. So, I have some beautiful DW’s burled wood, staring at me. Tried to paint them once….yeah. Once! In acrylic. Maybe I’ll try water soluble oil . Thx again!

Hello Matthew, in regards to your comment about the pencil line on your painting,that bugs you! heres an after thought. iv had that happen to me several times, and iv discoverd several ways to handle it.1. if you have access to an electric eraser, use it lightly, of cource there will be a lighter streak there, but i dont think anyone would even notice! sort of like adding highlights. 2. fake in some trees over the line, again nobody would notice or care! By the way, much thanks for the tips you gave, There are so many great artists out there,and so many differant styles! Do we choose to paint for fun? or to sell to others? i like to paint that make a differance! How? does it make someone happy? would it bring back memories? does it create a ambience? Im my own worse cridic! i dont know how many iv trashed, to get a good one!

I was trying to paint a scene of my daughter where she and her clothes were a lot lighter than the background and ended up doing the outline thing behind her which made the sky look off. How do you not outline when the forefront or main focus of the painting is lighter than the background without it not looking like this? Love your style and paintings ! Thank you for the tips!

Is that tower in Kansas City's Plaza district? Great tips, thank you! 😃🍀🍀🍀

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

My tip…clean your palette,..to paint clean, clear away the mess!

I really need to learn how to make more paint than I think I'll need. I'm so stingy that I always do less.

Superb video. I hope you don’t mind but I shared it on the Facebook art page I belong to.

Hello my friends

Where do you look for references?

Tip #6 Don’t outline… have you been spying on me? I am so guilty of this and then I start trying to blend in the line where it (invariably)has dried and I end up with an overworked mess. Thank you! Great tutorial.

Add life. Birds, animals, people, plants, energy, motion...

Too many ads

That would be "fewer," not "less."

Thank you

Thank you !

▶︎Free Video Lesson: 8 Ways to Avoid Overworking Your Watercolor Painting www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/opt-in

Thank you!